Clock winding mechanism.



E. L. SWAIN.

CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13,1911.

' Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

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MENTOR- E. L. SWAIN.

CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 13,1911

- :h ATTORNEYJ EDWARD L. SWAIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

Application filed May 13, 1911. Serial No. 626,972.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. SWAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clock Winding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a clock winding mechanism and comprises as an essential feature a clutch, the driven member of which is slidably mounted on the arbor and is adapted to be moved gradually toward the driving member of the clutch and to finally engage the same after the clock has run a predetermined period of time. As shown by me, the arbor is provided with a threaded section which is engaged by a collar adapted to be rotated with the spring barrel of the clock mechanism, and a connection from said collar to the driven clutch member whereby thela tber may be advanced, as before stated.

In the following specification, I have described the driving clutch member as connected to the shaft of a speedometer,as the particular utilization of the invention by me is in connection with motor car practice in which it is the custom to support the clock and speedometer adjacent to each other on a suitable bracket for convenience of inspection. I do not, however, limit myself to such specific utilization or construction as the winding mechanism may be so adapted that the driving member of the clutch may be connected to any other moving part of the machine, or the invention may be adapted for use in connection with other forms of moving vehicles.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 a central longitudinal section, certain of the parts being shown in elevation; and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views.

Similar reference numerals indicate similar parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 designates the base of the clock movement; 2 the clock spring secured to the barrel 3 and the arbor 4. As the spring 2 uncoils, barrel 3 will be rotated on arbor 4,,its motion being transmitted to pinion 5, and thence to the clock movement all as usual and well known. Fastened to the back of the spring barrel are pins 6 which engage the collar of a nut 7 supported upon a threaded continuation 8 of the arbor. The nut has a circumferential groove 9 adapted to receive a laterally projecting arm 10 carried on a rod 11 which extends through the base and has a sliding bearing in a bracket 12'secured to the base 1. This rod 11 carries at its other end a laterally projecting arm 13 similar to the arm 10. The arm 13 engages the sliding member 14 of a clutch, the other member being carried on a driven shaft 22. The clutch member 14 is slidablv supported on a shaft 15 so that said shaft will be rotated when the clutch members engage each other. I have shown the shaft 15 square in cross section but the clutch member 14 may be secured to said shaft in any other suitable manner so as to prevent independent rotation. The shaft 15 is secured to and forms a continuation of arbor 4 and has secured thereto spring arms 16 which carry at their upper ends rollers 17 adapted to engage a double cam collar 18 which is a part of the clutch member 14.

The fixed clutch member, in the particular application of the invention shown by me, comprises two fingers 19 pivotally hung on studs 20 secured to a head 21 fast on shaft 22, or the head and shaft may be integral. The upper end of shaft 15 is reduced and has a bearing in the end of shaft 22. This latter shaft may be any driven part of the machine mechanism, but as used by me, is connected to the flexible shaft of a speedometer by suitable gearing, it being understood that said shaft is rotated whenever the particular machine, such asa motor car, or other vehicle, on which it is mounted, is moving.

The operation of the mechanism above described is follows: The clock mechanism may be of any well known type designed to run a definite length of time, in practice an eight-day clock being preferable for the particular use for which my invention is adapted. When the clock is fully wound the collar 7 and clutch member 14 will be at their lowermost positions. As the spring 2 uncoils, the slow rotation of barrel 3. will be imparted, through pins 6, to the collar 7 to. advance it along the threaded section 8 of the arbor and as it is advanced a longitudinal movement will be given to rod 11 and the clutch member 14 through the medium of the arms 10 and 13. The collar 7 may be so adjusted, or the pitch of screw 8 may be such as to advance clutch member 14 a sufficient distance to engage the fixed member of the clutch on shaft 22 at a predetermined time; that is, at the end of two, three, or more days, up to the limit of the running time of the clock. As the clutch member 14 advances on shaft 15, the upper face of cam 18 will force the spring arms 16 outwardly until the rollers pass the high point of the cam surface to the under side thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, when a quick movement will be imparted to the clutch member 14 to effect its engagement with the fixed clutch member. This quick movement of member 14 is permitted by reason of the play between arm 13 and the groove 14 of the member 14 which is engaged by said arm, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the member 14 has been thus moved, the dogs 23 thereon will be forced into engagement with the fingers 19. The latter, as shown in Fig. 3, are normally held in engagement with stop-blocks 24 by springs 25, and are inclined in opposite directions at their lower ends. Should the movement of member 14 be such that the dogs 23 will engage the in clined faces of fingers 19, the latter will be.

forced away from the corresponding stopbloclr 24 to be returned to normal position by spring 25 as soon as the dog wipes past it. On the next half revolution, the dogs 23 will have been advanced sufficiently to be engaged by the opposite straight side of the fingers 19. When that occurs, the rotationof shaft 22' will be imparted to shaft 15 and thereby to arbor 4 to wind the spring 2. As the arbor is rotated in a winding direction, the collar 7 will be restored to its original position, and when moving will carry with it the member 14, a quick return movement of said member being effect ed when rollers 17 pass the high point of cam 18 to the upper side thereof.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a clock mechanism comprising an arbor, a clutch having a driv.-

ing and a driven member the latter slidably supported on said arbor, and a connection between the clock mechanism and said driven member to advance the latter along the arbor as the clock unwinds and into en.-

- gagement with said driving member when the clock is unwound a predetermined amount.

2. In combination, a clock mechanism comprising an arbor, a clutch having a driving'and a driven member the latter slidably supported on said arbor, and a connection between the clock mechanism and S216.

driven member to advance the latter along the.

arbor as the clock unwinds and into engagement with said driving member when the clock is unwound a pie-determined. amount:

said driven member having a cam face, and

member.

3. In combination, a clock mechanism comprising a spring barrel and an arbor, a clutch having a driving and a driven men her the latter slidably supported on said an boi', and a connection between said barrel and driven member whe Jby as the barrel is rotatcd a pre-determined amount in unwind,

ing the driven member of the clutch will be made to engage the driving member.

4. In combination, a clock mechanism comprising an arbor having a threaded section, a clutch having a driving and a driven member the latter slidably supported on said arbor, a collar engaging said threaded section of the arbor and connected to the clock mechanism so as to be advanced there- 011, and a connection between said collar and the driven clutch member whereby when the clock is unwound a predetermined amount the said driven member will be made to engage said driving member.

5. In combination, a clock mechanism comprising an arbor having a threaded section, a collar engaging said section, a spring barrel, a connection between. said barrel and collar whereby they rotate in unison, a clutch having a driving and a driven member the latter slidably supported on said arbor, a connection between said collar and driven member whereby the latter is ad vanced on said arbor toward tlie driving member of the clutch.

6. In combination, a clock tnechanisi comprising an arbor, a clutch having a dri' ing and a driven member the batter slit. ably supported on said arbor end mean-s actuated by the clock mechanism to advance the driven clutch member toward the driving member, means to effect a quick movement of the driven member at the moment of its engagement with the driving member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oi two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD L. SWAIN.

VJilnesses CHARLES S. Jones, M. E. MoNiNou. 

